GPS Tips for my new job ?

I use a Rand Mcnally never steered me wrong but I still check the route it gives with atlas. In my 18 months experience I can say that trip planning is the most important part of this job. Know where you're going to fuel and sleep before the wheels start turning. It will get much easier as time goes by and places become more familiar. As for me I'm happy to say that the Interstate system east of the Mississippi is begging to feel like driving around my hometown. Goodluck josherd 87

 

IMO I think you would be good with the Garmin standard model. It's for cars but cheaper than the trucker model. (watch the signs) You are going to be bumping docks within a 14hr round trip of your home terminal, to me you will be wasting money on the trucker models. Spend the money on the street maps for the areas you will be in most frequently, with in a few months time you wont even use the GPS anyways.

 

I just bough a Rand McNally TND520LM off a guy who just came off the road for $125. Awesome GPS. Hasn't screwed me yet. But as many will tell you, you should still REALLY have a Atlas. I just picked up a Rand Motor Carriers 2014 Laminated Edition at a TA for $29.00. I think the MSRP on them are $80.00. A lot of it is where you go. I'm a local driver so I have a much higher chance of winding up somewhere I shouldn't be. When I'm going somewhere I've never been I still see what route the GPS wants me to go and give the Atlas a quick double check. I REALLY don't want to be in the next youtube video as the guy that can't back out of the low bridge I came face to face with.

BUT as long as the GPS is up to date, Rand is making both of them so it SHOULD be assumed that the GPS is always ahead of the Atlas a little, but I'm still paranoid.

 

I've been running a rand McNally for 6 years and it's never led me astray. Just use common sense an keep it updated. Very minimum update every 2 weeks and the map database every 6 months or year. The GPS gets updated a lot more then those paper atlases do.

 

The last video I saw the stupid guy diddnt try to back up at all but tried to u turn it. USA Truck, im sure most have seen this, guess he diddnt know what R was for.

 

HAH! I did see that one! That had to be the worst thing I've ever seen.

 

GPS routing accuracy is dependent on the maps, and here's the dirty little secret... all the personal units get their map data from the same place, Navteq. The difference is in features and the UI (user interface). Buy the one that has the features you want.

Fortunately, Trimble doesn't make personal GPSes. I had one at my last job, and the routing was hideous.